Garlic Butter Beef

This beef and rice skillet mixes flavorful ground beef with fluffy rice in a gooey, cheese-packed sauce that turns basic ingredients into an amazing dinner. It's great for those hectic evenings when you want something tasty that'll impress everyone at your table.

I came up with this meal when my sister's family showed up without warning for dinner. I only had ground beef and rice in my cupboard, but this skillet dish saved the day and now it's the comfort food everyone asks for whenever they stop by.

Ingredients

• 450g ground beef: gives you that filling protein boost and tasty flavor as the main part of the dish
• 200g long grain white rice: makes a soft, light base that soaks up all the yummy sauce
• 2 tablespoons olive oil: gets the beef nicely browned and adds a bit of flavor
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter: makes everything richer and gives the sauce a smooth feel
• 4 cloves garlic minced: brings that wonderful smell and classic garlic butter taste
• 1 teaspoon onion powder: adds flavor without chunks of onion getting in the way
• 1.5 tablespoons Cajun seasoning: gives you a mix of herbs and spices with just a touch of heat
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika: adds more layers of flavor and a hint of smokiness
• Salt to taste: brings out all the good tastes in your meal
• Freshly cracked black pepper: adds a tiny bit of heat and more flavor depth
• 360ml beef broth: creates the tasty base for your sauce while adding rich meaty flavor
• 240ml heavy cream: makes everything super creamy and balances out the spices
• 480ml water: helps cook your rice until it's just right
• 100g shredded cheddar cheese: melts perfectly for that stretchy, gooey goodness everyone craves
• 40g freshly grated Parmesan cheese: adds a bit of tang and helps thicken your sauce
• Chopped fresh parsley: makes the dish look pretty and adds a fresh taste

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the Rice:

Wash your rice in cold water until the water looks clear. This gets rid of extra starch so it won't clump together. In a pot, get 480ml water boiling. Put in your washed rice, turn the heat down right away, and put the lid on tight. Let it cook without touching it for 18-20 minutes until the water's gone and the rice feels soft but not mushy. Take it off the heat but keep the lid on for 5 more minutes before you fluff it up with a fork.

Brown the Beef:

Get your olive oil hot in a big, sturdy pan over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Toss in your ground beef and break it up into little pieces with a wooden spoon. Let it brown without messing with it too much, about 5-7 minutes, so it gets more flavor. If there's too much fat coming out, tip the pan and scoop some out so the meat browns instead of steams.

Add Aromatics and Seasonings:

Once your beef looks brown, turn the heat down to medium and throw in your minced garlic, onion powder, Cajun seasoning, and smoked paprika right on top of the meat. Keep stirring for 1-2 minutes, and don't let the garlic burn. The heat will wake up the spices, letting out their oils and making them taste stronger. Your kitchen should smell amazing now.

Create the Sauce:

Pour in your beef broth and heavy cream, and use your spoon to scrape all those tasty brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Those caramelized pieces have tons of flavor that'll make your sauce better. Let everything bubble gently for about 5 minutes, giving it a stir now and then. The liquid should start to get a little thicker.

Add the Cheese and Butter:

Turn the heat down low and put in your shredded cheddar, grated Parmesan, and butter. Keep stirring in a figure-eight pattern until everything's melted together. Going slow stops the cheese from getting stringy or separating. Give it a taste and add salt and fresh black pepper, remembering that the Cajun seasoning and cheese already have some salt in them.

Combine with Rice:

Gently mix your cooked rice into the beef and cheese mixture by folding it in instead of stirring hard. This keeps the rice fluffy while making sure each bit gets covered in the tasty sauce. Keep folding until it's all mixed and there's no dry rice left.

Garnish and Serve:

Put it on plates or serve right from the pan for a homey feel. Sprinkle lots of fresh chopped parsley on top for color and a fresh taste that balances the rich flavors. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes before eating so all the flavors can blend together.

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The Cajun seasoning is really the hidden gem in this dish. I found this out by chance when I ran out of my regular Italian herbs and had to wing it. The mix of paprika, garlic, oregano and other spices in Cajun seasoning changed this from a basic skillet meal into something truly special that my family now wants every week.

Perfect Rice Every Time

Getting fluffy rice is super important for this dish. Always wash your rice well before cooking to get rid of extra starch. Use the right amount of water to rice, usually 2:1 for long-grain white rice. When the water starts boiling, turn it down to very low right away and don't lift the lid to peek. This keeps the steam inside that cooks the rice evenly. After it's done, let the rice sit covered for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork. This extra step helps the moisture spread out evenly through all the grains.

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Make It Your Own

This beef and rice skillet is easy to change based on what you've got in your kitchen. For extra veggies, throw in a cup of frozen peas or corn during the last 3 minutes of cooking. Bell peppers and mushrooms work great too if you cook them with the beef. If you don't want beef, ground turkey or chicken works fine, but you might want to add an extra spoon of butter for richness. Want it spicier? Add some red pepper flakes or a chopped jalapeño with the garlic. If you can't have dairy, coconut cream and dairy-free cheese can work instead, though it'll taste a bit different.

Storing and Reheating

This one-pan meal keeps really well, so it's great for planning ahead. Let any leftovers cool down before putting them in sealed containers. They'll stay good in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. When warming up from the fridge, add a splash of beef broth or milk to make it creamy again, and heat it slowly over medium-low, stirring every so often. For frozen portions, let them thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. You can use the microwave if you're in a hurry, but the stove works better for even heating and keeps the creamy texture. The flavors often get even better after a day in the fridge, so leftovers might taste even better than when you first made it.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ How do I make rice soft and fluffy?

Wash the rice with cold water to remove extra starch, then cook it on low heat with the right water ratio. Let it sit covered for a few minutes before serving.

→ Can ground beef be swapped out?

Absolutely, you can switch to ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based options to match your diet or taste preferences.

→ What’s the trick to stronger garlic flavor?

Chop fresh garlic and gently cook it in olive oil before adding anything else. Don’t overcook it to avoid bitterness.

→ How do I make it spicier?

Turn up the heat by adding more Cajun seasoning or a touch of cayenne. Adjust based on your spice tolerance.

→ What cheese works best here?

Choose shredded cheddar or grated Parmesan. For variety, Monterey Jack or Gruyère adds extra creaminess.

→ Can I prepare this in advance?

Totally! Cook the dish ahead of time and warm it up later on the stove. Add a little broth or cream if the sauce seems too thick.